Fantastic food on a spa-taculargetaway
IT WOULD be easy to wander past the discreet Bath Priory hotel and not even notice it’s there.
Blended into a row of 19th-century houses in a quiet corner of the bustling Somerset city, the relatively small retreat doesn’t shout about its existence - at least, not from the outside.
Inside the honey-coloured Bath stone walls, a traditional interior welcomes guests – along with an enormous roaring fire.
Rooms are lifted with spring colours and painted wooden panels, antique furniture and decorative cornicing.
There are just 33 bedrooms inside the Bath Priory, ranging from classic rooms to family suites.
Giant Vi-Spring and Ammique beds make for a very comfy night’s sleep and L’Occitane toiletries drench the bathrooms with invigorating aromas. XXXXXX xxxxxx The hotel is home to Bath’s only
Xxxx Michelin-starred restaurant. Executive chef Michael Nizzero is new to the hotel, taking up the helm in January, following stints under Alain Roux at the Waterside Inn, and also at The Ritz.
Ask for a table by the window, which looks out on to the beautiful garden – four acres of gorgeous greenery, tended to by Jane Moore, a Chelsea Flower Show silver medal winner.
A la carte dining is available but opt for the delectable seven-course tasting menu (a vegetarian option is also available).
Standout courses include the perfectly pink lamb loin with shallot confit and potato mousseline, and the seriously gooey salted caramel fondant with butterscotch and banana sorbet.
The wine cellar is equally elaborate, with unusual choices – such as a Turkish pinot noir.
For a lighter option, The Pantry is open for a simpler, more casual dining experience. It’s lovely in the warmer months when guests can spill out on to the terrace.
Freshly refurbished, the UK’s first L’Occitane spa opened at the hotel in November.
The Garden Spa’s signature treatment – the Verbena relaxing massage – costs £115 for an hour (£105 Monday to Thursday) and is one of the most blissful, rub-downs you will ever experience.
After a combination of Swedish effleurage, Chinese acupressure and Balinese massage techniques to stimulate circulation and ease stress, spa-goers can head to the indoor pool and shut themselves away in the steam room and sauna.
If you can tear yourself away from the delights of the hotel, it’s worth exploring Bath, which is designated a Unesco World Heritage Site.
You can take a pretty 15-minute walk via Royal Victoria Park straight into city. The Botanical Gardens en route are well worth a mooch too, while the centre itself is great for shopping and sightseeing, with the Royal Crescent and Roman Baths easily accessible.
If you fancy more spa action, Thermae Bath Spa with its rooftop pool, is the perfect place to while away an afternoon.